The Best Tele Bridge

Which tele bridge is better for this situation: mim body, string-through.

option 1: Vintage style ash tray bridge w/ 3 tiltable brass saddles to fix intonation problems.

option 2: Modern tele bridge with 6 individual saddles (not barrel but rectangular) that are made from brass but plated in chrome.

I've heard that the vintage style is better for sustain because of the heavier mass of saddle.

Which is the best option?

-Brandon

I prefer the vintage tele bridges. The brass saddles do have more mass and are a different material than modern tele saddles, and have a different tone. The 3 saddle teles do seem to have increased sustain, and I think that's due in part to the increased saddle pressure (two strings breaking over each saddle instead of one).

This one---gt; from : localhost/store.guitarfetish.com/wicotebrbrsa.html

compensated brass saddles, steel baseplate, best part is it's dual-load, so you can run strings through the bridge like the old esquires or through the body like a modern tele. I'm buying one of these for my telecaster... and a standard ashtray cover will fit it too.

I use only the modern style bridges on my Tele's. The vintage one's may sound a little better but I've scraped my hand on the edge of too many vintage bridge sides!

callahm has a modern tele bridge with three compensated saddles.
something to check out

One thing people do is shave the lower flange on the vintage bridges. I bought a Fender one off ebay that has the compensated saddles and lower flanged shaved.

Have a look at the Gamp;L tele. I don't think it even goes through the body! And it's 6 saddle And that was Leo's own quot;improvementsquot;

i prefer the 3-saddle vintage type. check out,

www.callahamguitars.com

www.glendaleguitars.com

If you're buying a bridge for the tone, well, IMHO it's a myth. I can get the same tone using any Tele bridge. Brent Mason is proof. His tone comes from a modern flat 6-saddle bridge. I used to subscribe to the myth that an ashtray bridge and 3 brass saddles was the only way to get the tone I was looking for - a traditional, classic Tele sound. I was mistaken. I got fantastic tone from a poplar body, American Standard bridge. I had a JD model in the bridge position; but that didn't make the tone. My fingers were a big part. I say all this with respect to others; but I just don't see the tonal difference in the bridges. Play what feels comfortable to you...

I like the 6 individual bullet saddles. I think it's a myth, too, that there's really any difference in tone. Plus I think the look is sleeker.

Try to get in touch with this chap:
www.pigtailmusic.com


Originally Posted by Butch SnyderIf you're buying a bridge for the tone, well, IMHO it's a myth.

BLASPHEMY!